California FFA News Spring 2019 | Page 13

SOBRATO FFA Ice Cream Social by Myan Lam HAMILTON CITY FFA Backpack Drive by Evan Boone California has been on fire in recent months. Despite the terrible events, local chapters have found a way to bring joy to the residents of the North State. Hamilton City, Orland, Willows, Gridley, and several other chapters across the Northern Section collected donations of school supplies to go to the families affected by the fires. After the Superior Region COLC, several chapters went on a shopping spree to collect even more supplies to go to the victims. Together they donated hundreds of backpacks. This act put smiles on the faces of many people, young and old, and set them up with school supplies for this school year. On September 12th, the Sobrato FFA Chapter hosted an Ice Cream Social for the first major chapter event of the year.  The Ice Cream Social provided a fun opportunity for FFA members to mingle with each other and to ease back into the beginning of the new school year.  Bringing together both new and returning members, this activity encouraged students to socialize among each other, meet new people, and form new bonds, all while enjoying a generous serving of ice cream supplied by the Sobrato FFA leadership team!  In addition, students were able to personally meet and converse with the new officer team, as well enjoy a few lawn games, such as corn hole and frisbee toss. The social enjoyed great success overall, with over one hundred members attending this gathering. TURLOCK FFA Cancer Support by Alyce Silva Across the U.S. an undeserving individual lives with cancer. Forty-three children are diagnosed daily, approximately 15,695 children are diagnosed a year, and more than 40,000 are treated annually. The effects of cancer are life-changing. By reaching out to Valley Children’s Hospital, our chapter hopes to bring happiness to the children being treated while taking minds off of their diagnosis. The simplest actions bring an incredible amount of happiness and helps ease their minds. As a team we decided to assemble activity bags filled with fun items that relate to agriculture. Included in the bags will also be a fleece blanket handmade by the members within our chapter. In April we’ll be attending State Convention, and our members will deliver the bags to the Valley Children’s Hospital. Our members will be able to donate items going to the patients at our local treatment center in town monthly. FOWLER FFA Off to a Great Start by Megan Jenkins Fowler FFA has had a very busy summer filled with planning and activities! Newly elected FFA officers had their Summer Officer Retreat in June, camping at Bass Lake. Officers were put in charge of planning the meals, cleanups, public service and bonding activities. They discussed this year’s upcoming FFA events, meeting activities, the FFA Sweetheart Dance, the 2018 San Joaquin Region Leadership Bootcamp, and many different community and local service projects. Officers updated their FFA Program of Activities and FFA calendar, went fishing, and conducted fun and exciting team bonding events.The retreat also allowed officers the privilege of meeting the new Fowler High School Ag teacher who will be teaching the Ag Mechanics Pathway. { Continued on page 14 } California FFANEWS • PAGE 13 • Spring 2019